Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, June 5: Cutting across party affiliations, leaders of all political parties have strongly opposed the decision of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) setting deadline for the Langar Organizations asking them not to cross the Jawahar Tunnel before June 21 while the holy yatra will start from July 1.
The decision has not only drawn a flak from the opposition parties but the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders whose party is ruling at Centre have also expressed their utter surprise over the decision of SASB and strongly advocated that the same be revoked immediately and Langar Organizations given 20 to 25 days time in advance of the yatra to reach their respective camps enroute the holy cave.
The Congress, which also opposed the SASB decision, said it was not acceptable and this way the Board itself was deliberately creating hurdles in the annual yatra.
Congress spokesperson and former MLC, Ravinder Sharma while commenting over the decision of the Board, said there is no logic in imposing restrictions over the people who are establishing free langars for holy yatra enroute the cave shrine every year thereby rendering selfless service to pilgrims. They are facilitating the yatra by providing all services to pilgrims and instead of cooperating with them the Board is creating unnecessary hurdles in their way.
Sharma, while taking a strong dig at BJP, wanted to know why the party which is in power at Centre is silent over the issue.
Terming it a conspiracy to discourage the yatra, he demanded that all taxes be exempted to yatra and no tax should be imposed on the pilgrims and langars. He said Congress will not compromise on such issues as people have faith in Baba Amarnath and every step should be taken for smooth conduct and hassle free yatra.
Sharma, while smelling a rat in the decision, said he fails to understand that why every time hurdles are created in the way of Amarnath yatra and asked whether it is a conspiracy to discourage the pilgrimage. Terming the decision “totally wrong”, he said the restrictions should not be imposed on those people who are opening the langars for pilgrims and providing free of cost facilities to them enroute the holy cave.
BJP State president and former MLA Nowshera, Ravinder Raina also expressed his reservations over the decision and said that he will soon meet Governor, Satya Pal Malik who is also the Chairman of SASB and discuss the issue with him. “I will request him that the Board and administration should fully cooperate with Langar people and extend every sort of help to them in establishing the langars enroute holy cave.
Raina said that the Langar people need 20 to 25 days time prior to start of yatra for establishing of the langars enroute to holy cave on terrains like, Sheshnag, Poshpathri, Panjtarni, Mahagunas Top, Pissu Top as well as Brarri Marg and holy cave.
“They are doing a yeoman’s service by providing free langar, bedding, medical facilities etc to yatris and thereby assisting the Board in smooth and hassle free conduct of yatra’, he said, adding they need full cooperation and support from the Government as well Board and not discouragement.
He expressed the hope that the good sense will prevail upon the Board and it will rescind the order on setting deadline for the langars in crossing the National Highway in the overall interests of the pilgrims participating in the yatra from different parts of country and abroad.
The decision was also opposed by National Conference (NC). Its senior leader, Rattan Lal Gupta termed the Board decision a high handedness. He said instead of working to restore the National Highway and ensure hassle free yatra and flow of tourists, the Government is showing no concern towards people’s problems. He said the yatra will start next month and the Government has not taken any pre-emptive measures to ensure smooth plying of traffic on NH and instead imposed ban on crossing of Jawahar Tunnel by Langar Organisations before June 21. He wanted to know what purpose this will serve.
Gupta said the people even suffered during Ramzan traveling from Jammu to Srinagar due to bad condition of NH. This is not a responsive Government and they are not bothered to solve the problems of people, he added.
The decision was also criticized by the Vishawa Hindu Parishad (VHP) State Unit president Advocate Leela Karan Sharma. He said what problem the Board has in granting sufficient time to Langar Organizations in crossing the tunnel. They need over 15 days in establishing langars before the yatra and setting of deadline over crossing of Jawahar tunnel by them is totally unfortunate. He said what was problem for the Board in granting sufficient time to them as 10 days are not enough for establishing langars on such tough terrain tracks.
He said the yatra is starting on July 1 and deadline for langars to cross the Jawahar Tunnel has been set as 21st June which is illogical and ridiculous.
Balwant Singh Mankotia, senior leader, J&K NPP while criticizing the decision of Shrine Board said this way the Board was trying to hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus. He said imposition of restrictions on the langars is totally undemocratic and a wrong decision.
Mankotia said nowhere in the world such restrictions are imposed on religious pilgrimage as langar people are providing free services and other facilities to pilgrims and hence need every sort of encouragement from all including Board and Government.
He regretted that instead of encouraging them the Board is harassing and humiliating them which can’t be tolerated.
Shiv Sena Balasahib Thackeray State president, Dimpy Kohli while criticizing the decision said that his party will launch agitation against the same. He said 10 days are not sufficient time for installing the langars at such high altitude places like Poshpathri, Mahagunas Top, Sheshnag, Panchtarni and holy cave and the Board must understand this.
He said the NH should be thrown open for the langar people and there should be no restrictions on them.
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